The greater Irish Hills area will open the holiday season starting Nov. 30 with a series of activities across the weekend.

From 5 to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, the annual Evening of Lights at Hidden Lake Gardens will feature luminaries and lights to offer those in attendance a holiday atmosphere. The lights display will be accompanied from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday by the botanical garden’s annual holiday festival.

On Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 1 and 2, downtown merchants in Brooklyn will hold extended hours and Christmas open houses, while select businesses and organizations throughout the Irish Hills will also have open houses.

Guests may take a lap around the track in their personal automobile in exchange for a new, unwrapped toy or a bag of nonperishable food. All items will be donated to the CCIS Food Pantry in Brooklyn and the U.S. Marines Toys for Tots campaign.

“We are happy to be part of this great event and help the local community,” MIS President Roger Curtis said in a statement. “We don’t just work here; we live here and we’re happy to be part of this community.”

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, the annual Onsted Craft Show and Jubilee will take place in the middle school gym and cafeteria, 10109 Slee Road, while at 3 p.m., the Distinguished Young Women of the Irish Hills Scholarship Program will take place at the adjoining Onsted High School. Brooklyn American Legion Post 315 will host a Christmas dinner and dance at 6 p.m. in Brooklyn. The post is at 211 Chicago St.

The Irish Hills Gift and Trade Center, 7980 U.S. 12, will host a Christmas gala from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday and again from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday.

“The Irish Hills are awesome, and this is just one of the many ways to show our hospitality and sense of community,” said Cindy Hubbell, executive director of the Brooklyn-Irish Hills Chamber of Commerce.

For more information and a complete list of area events throughout the Irish Hills during Holidays in the Hills, visit brooklynmi.com or call the chamber office at 592-8907.